University of Kirkuk first institution to raise Kurdistan flag

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – Kirkuk governor said on Monday that diverse ethnic and religious groups in his city do not oppose raising Kurdistan flag alongside Iraqi flag on government building.

The University of Kirkuk on Sunday raised Kurdistan flag on the campus after the city decided to fly it on public buildings.

Mohammed Kamal, Head of Brayati Bloc in the Kirkuk provincial council stated that we should have raised the flag of Kurdistan in 2003 because it is a disputed territory between the Kurdistan Region and Iraq.

Kamal said that because the Iraqi government has not implemented the Article 140 of the constitution regarding the disputed areas, it is the right of Kurdistan to raise its flag alongside with the Iraqi flag.

Kirkuk has been protected by the Kurdistan Region’s Peshmerga forces for over two years, Kamal added.

On Sunday, Kirkuk governor in a press conference defended the decision to raise Kurdistan flag over public buildings, stating that the components of Kirkuk including Arabs and Turkmen do not oppose the decision.

Karim has called upon the provincial council to expedite the process of approving the demand to normalize the two-flag policy.

“The flag of Kurdistan was raised in Istanbul and Ankara. Why shouldn’t it be raised in Kirkuk?” asked Governor Karim.

Kirkuk is one of the most diverse provinces in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, consisting of different ethnic and religious groups such as Kurds, Arabs, Turkmen, and Christians. Kurds make up the majority of the population.

The province is one of the disputed territories between the Federal Government of Iraq and the autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). It is rich in natural resources, especially oil and gas.